News: Biodiversity and Sustainability

Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

Wildflower Center

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Launches Live Owl Nest Cam

A much-loved great horned owl named ‘Athena’ is viewable at The University of Texas at Austin center and field station.

A great horned owl perches on a tree branch.

Research

Why the Powerhouses of Cells Evolve Differently in Plants

New research solves a mystery as to why mitochondria in some plants evolve faster than others.

A pink flower with green stem against a tan background

Research

Climate Change and Habitat Loss Are Big Factors in Frog Pandemic

The worldwide decline in frog populations is due to a fast-spreading infection, but people also play a role.

A small frog perches on a large rock

Research

First Brainwide Map Shows How Sex and Intimacy Rewire the Brain

Steven Phelps and his team found 68 brain regions in prairie voles associated with mating and bonding.

A pair of small furry rodents snuggle

Features

UT Entomologists Collaborate on Insect-Inspired Album

An award-winning composer came to class and had scientists lend an ear, resulting in music that’s all the buzz.

A young treehopper photographed at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory polllinator garden is one of the insects that inspired a scientist-musician collaboraiton. Credit: Alex Wild

Research

Genes That ‘Don’t Play Well Together’ Drive Development of Distinct Species

Justin Havird, Erik Iverson and their colleagues have identified genes involved in hybrid incompatibility in swordtail fishes.

Fish swimming in an aquarium

UT News

What Happens to the UT Turtles When it Gets Cold Outside?

Travis LaDuc, who oversees UT Austin’s herpetology collection at the Biodiversity Center in the College of Natural Sciences, spoke to UT News.

Three turtles sit atop a rock in a pond reflecting the UT Tower and trees

Research

Natural Labs: UT Field Stations Help Predict Drought Impact

UT scientists study how droughts affect local ecosystems at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory and the Stengl Lost Pines Biological Station.

A wooden frame with clear pastic cover sits in a field of grass and shrubs surrounded by trees

Research

Tracking the Impacts of Climate Change on Food Webs in the Arctic

New research provides the latest evidence that climate change is having an impact on food webs in high-latitude ecosystems.

One scientist in protective clothing against insects leans over a metal circle in a grassy area, while another dressed similarly taking notes seated in the grass nearby

Features

Turtle Pond Offers Research Site for Undergraduates

A new long-running project allows undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience with ecological research in the heart of the UT Austin campus.

Professor Havird and his students take samples from the turtles to learn more about their ecology and health.